Visually no, but if it helps with cooling it's ok

No

ASUS has introduced a new addition to their acclaimed TUF series of motherboards, the SABERTOOTH Z77, based on the latest Intel 3rd Generation Ivy Bridge processors and Z77 Chipset. The TUF Series' commitment to provide users a stable computing experience is built on strong foundations, starting with military-grade components to ensure long-lasting quality and reliability.

The latest iteration features a series of innovative thermal solutions, including a new Thermal Armor design with enhanced cooling of the VRM area and a unique convection hole design, while an upgraded Thermal Radar with a new function called Fan Overtime protects vital system components against overheating after PC shut down. Another design beneficial for the longevity of the motherboard is Dust Defender, which prevents dust accumulation and the interference that could affect the many contact points scattered throughout the motherboard.

Armored with a new airflow circulation design
Forged with the military spirit in mind, the new Thermal Armor design with dual turbo fans keeps the SABERTOOTH Z77 motherboard running cool, quiet and most importantly, stable. A specially designed area of Thermal Armor safeguards sensitive VRM components by directing hot air away from them and the motherboard by means of a smart shunt funneling design. Specialized heat pipes effectively expedite thermal removal helping to ensure that temperatures stay low, while a dedicated I/O cover fan draws additional cold air in and expels even more heat for improved stability, leading to a longer board lifespan. The newest feature of the Thermal Armor design comes in the form of special convection holes placed at critical areas of the motherboard to facilitate airflow from turbo fans to the underside, providing additional cooling.

Defense against dust buildup
Dust Defender is an additional form of protection that works similarly to the military-inspired Thermal Armor, but instead of keeping temperatures low, it keeps system damaging dust at bay from peripheral ports and slots. After extended computer usage, excessive buildup of dust can occur on contact points within slots and connection ports; these can compromise data transfer speeds, negating the benefits of expensive and critical components such as graphics cards. The custom-designed TUF shielding covers resists particulate entry, effectively extending PCIe, RAM and USB connection life while also promoting better performance.

Cool down with Thermal Radar and new Fan Overtime function
Featured in previous SABERTOOTH models, Thermal Radar monitors temperatures in critical parts of the motherboard in real time, automatically adjusting fan speeds to make sure the system maintains a high level of stability. The new Thermal Radar comes with a new feature called Fan Overtime, which keeps the two turbo fans running a few minutes post shutdown on standby power to remove any remaining heat. By expelling any high temperatures that are still lingering in the case where they can cause damage, it extends system longevity, dropping heat by as much as 7°C in just ten minutes. Users can automatically shut off fans using either preset or manually-selected temperature thresholds, or based on time after shut down.

ASUS Advantage, TUF Reliability
The SABERTOOTH Z77 comes bundled with a host of exclusive ASUS features to stand out from the competition. A new DIGI+ Power control system allows for ultra-precise modulation and tuning of the CPU, iGPU and DRAM, so users can have total control of their system, whereas ASUS ESD Guard offers unique protection of motherboard components from unexpected electrostatic discharges, providing peace-of-mind usage. Also on board is LucidLogix Virtu MVP featuring HyperFormance Technology, which boosts your discrete graphics card up to 60% beyond its original performance.

For more information about the TUF SABERTOOTH Z77 Motherboard, please visit either the ASUS or TUF product sites.

The Sabertooth Z77 has a thunderbolt header in the lower left board topography. Asus is providing a $30 add-in card available in two weeks that you can purchase separately for thunderbolt connectivity.

Nice mobo. I do like the full cover and the ducted air cooling system. Used to have something similar on ASUS P5Q Deluxe mobo years ago (not ducted, but i had a special centrifugal fan for VRM section).

Why the "Fan Overtime" feature sound like bad thermal dissipation due to that "Dust Defender". I reckon that to achieve any cooling benefits from any sort of cover over the circuitry you would need to create a laminar flow between the PCB and the cover. That would require a very strong and noisy fan and a smooth surface of the circuitry so that no air turbulence is created.
Imagine a CPU fan with uneven, rough and dimpled blades, that would be really inefficient.

I'm no pro in this field but this seems logical if I'm not missing something.

Dust Defender huh...all I see is plenty of new places for dust to get trapped. Honestly even in my non filtered cases in this dusty area, most dust would accumulate in heatsink fins, fan blades, or in the bottom of the case. Not often would I find excess on the board. The exception being, traditional CPU HSFs where they are mounted to blow air down towards the board. If you are buying a board like this, you more than likely are mounting a aftermarket cooler too.

I'd like to see some professional testing done to see how well this really works out. Right now this just seems like a gimmick to sell boards, maybe even charge a higher premium for the feature.

The Sabertooth Z77 has a thunderbolt header in the lower left board topography. Asus is providing a $30 add-in card available in two weeks that you can purchase separately for thunderbolt connectivity.

Why the "Fan Overtime" feature sound like bad thermal dissipation due to that "Dust Defender". I reckon that to achieve any cooling benefits from any sort of cover over the circuitry you would need to create a laminar flow between the PCB and the cover. That would require a very strong and noisy fan and a smooth surface of the circuitry so that no air turbulence is created.
Imagine a CPU fan with uneven, rough and dimpled blades, that would be really inefficient.

I'm no pro in this field but this seems logical if I'm not missing something.

Click to expand...

turbulence is great if it doesn't hamper the airflow - it breaks the boundary layer that keeps the heat from being transferred to the airflow. having said that, i have no idea what's going on under that cover and how it performs but i do like the clean look.

I don't like it. I understand the concept. And it is a great way of differentiating a product... and I'm sure it will see healthy sales... but

> What exactly is this supposed to look like? A mainboard wearing a black polo neck? :shadedshu
> That is more of a dust TRAP than a protector
> It is form over substance, there is zero benefit to cost
> I think a "jap-knickers" model would be more successful, and more fun, if you catch my drift.